Prosecutors: Gang members arrested over synthetic drugs in Broward, Miami-Dade

MIAMI – Federal prosecutors in Miami are dealing with cases involving a dozen suspects — including members of the Mexican mafia and MS-13 and Sur-13 gangs — for trafficking highly addictive synthetic drugs in South Florida, records show.

Records show investigators accused Edgar “Diablo” Garcia-Velasquez, who was born in Honduras, of possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing fentanyl and about 50 grams of methamphetamine in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

According to an indictment, Garcia-Velasquez, 34, did not work alone. Federal and local investigators from several agencies worked together to identify 11 other co-conspirators, including seven from Florida and four from California.

The defendants in Florida are Jose “LaBomba3” Hernandez, Loupe “L3g3nd” Loredo, Hugo “Houdini” Cruz, Luis “Sombra” Portillo, Rafael “Rafy” Gutierrez, Malinda Martinez, and Karina Martinez-Vazquez. They come from five counties: Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Lee, Polk, and Hendry.

The four from California are Francisco “Casper” Rangel, Jose “Stranger″ Puga, Felipe “Wicked” Gonzalez, and Gabriela Rodriguez-Carrillo.

A trio — Martinez-Vazquez, 34, of Miami-Dade County, and Rodriguez-Carrillo, 42, and Puga, 45, — allegedly worked with both the methamphetamine and the mixture containing fentanyl.

Gutierrez, 28, of Miami-Dade County allegedly assisted the trio with the methamphetamine. Portillo, also known as “Shadow,” 35, and Gutierrez, 28, both of Miami-Dade County, allegedly assisted with the help of Martinez, 42, of Fort Myers in Lee County; and Loredo, 39, of Lake Wales in Polk County.

Prosecutors announced on Friday the arrests of the 12 defendants started on Sept. 12. The investigation involved Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Miami; FBI agents in Miami, Los Angeles, and Fort Myers; and Homeland Security Investigations agents in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Myers, and Los Angeles.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, also worked on the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez is prosecuting the cases.